The Order of the Office of the Prime Minister No. 66/2523, often known simply as Order 66/2523 or Order 66/23, was a directive of the Thai government outlining key policies in the fight against the communist insurgency towards the end of the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because t ...

. It was issued on 23 April 1980 ( BE 2523) and signed by then-

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...

General Prem Tinsulanonda. The order formalized a shift in policy from the hard-line military stance practised by the rightist government of Thanin Kraivixien (in power from 1976 to 1977) towards a more moderate approach which prioritized political measures over military action. It called for addressing social injustices and the promotion of political participation and democratic processes. Amnesty laws issued in accordance with the order allowed defectors to leave the insurgent movement, which, combined with a deterioration of international support, led to the fall of the Communist Party of Thailand.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Order 66 2523 Political history of Thailand 1980 in Thailand Anti-communism in Thailand Communist insurgency in Thailand